Comments on: Visit Nicholas Culpeper’s Spitalfields

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:49:41 +0000

Just don’t pick or use any plants growing on corners or from cracks in the the pavements, ‘cos no doubt a dog will have cocked his leg up against them before you got there!

By: Chris Harrington

Chris Harrington — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:55:06 +0000

Dear Gentle Author, I came across your newsletter several years ago, but only recently subscribed to it. I find it fascinating. I lived at Violet Road, Bromley by Bow and worked in the Police Station in Commercial Street in 1964. I have many fond memories of the East End, especially the area from The City to Vallance Road and Whitechapel up to Shoreditch. My Mother’s family came from the Islington area and traded in Camomile Street in the late 1700s& early 1800s. With affluence they moved to Mile End Old Town and then a ‘Roomy villa’ in Southfields. My younger brother lives in Stepney. I escaped to the Westcountry & live in rural Devon, surrounded by fields & woodland. What with age & health issues I doubt I will ever join your tours, but I really do enjoy your conversations through your newsletter.
This comment is essentially to you as a way of saying, “Thank you”

By: Jennifer Blain

Jennifer Blain — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Throughly enjoyed this post. I have made a collection of Wall Weeds – and tree pit and kerbside weeds – but never thought to look at their history! I’d like to forward your post to our neighbourhood news and history blog, Harringay on Line, properly acknowledged, of course. Do let me know if this is a problem. Jennifer B

ps. I’ve subscribed to Spitalfields Life for years.

By: Greg T

Greg T — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:42:57 +0000

Pellitory-of-the-wall is a plant v. sensitive to air pollution.
I did not see it in London until about 12 years ago – now it’s eveywhere (again)
IIRC, it’s closely related to stining nettles

By: Corvin

Corvin — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:49:31 +0000

Fascinating read. I’m very happy to leave seventeenth-century medicine, and its ailments, in the seventeenth century. Boots beckons instead.

By: Karen Rennie

Karen Rennie — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:33:39 +0000

thankyou, I love this!
Those sprouty bits of nature that pop up
in our urban spaces are brilliant and too often
get tidied away.

By: Cynthia McCaughan

Cynthia McCaughan — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 03:12:13 +0000

Well, that is a trip down memory lane: picking groundsel for my grandmother’s canary is a very early memory. Also to learn about Herb Robert (Stinkender Storchschnabel!) which I only knew as cranes bill geranium of which I have rather alot of in my garden. Apparently good for repelling mosquitoes! So many of these weeds are in New Zealand, mostly accidently introduced, although buddleia once a garden shrub is considered noxious and invasive.